Another Route
There is another route, "up the middle". Take beautiful back roads from Iguacu north across the Parana (at Guaira 24-03-30 S and 54-15-26 W). then find your way north and west to Bonito (21-07-52 S and 56-28-50 W) There you will find incredible clear mineral waters where you can scuba dive in caves among the fish! From there it is just a "hop-skip-and-a-jump" to see the Gran Pantanal (just north of there).
Then head east to Campo Grande, and turn north towards Rondonopolis. Before you get to Coxim, stop for a few days at "Rio Verde de Mato Grosso", a neat hostal, campground and restaurant, right beside 7 waterfalls and pools at 18-56-22 S and 54-54-05 W. (See my blog for details).
From Rodonopolis, turn nortwest to Cuiaba, a modern city right in the middle of the jungle! 45 min north of there are the famous Chapada dos "Guimaraes". Continuing northwest and north to Porto Velho (don't miss Vila Bela (15-00-15 S and 59-56-52 W) beside the infamous "Lost World" plateau ( 14-57-51 S and 60-03-32 W) just 2 hours off the main highway!
From Porto Velho you can take a boat to Manaus down the Madeira River, or continue to Humaita and catch the boat there. This whole way from Iguacu is paved and extreemly beautiful.
Best of Luck, Toby
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